By Richard Day
ARCADIA, WI (June 10) – Californian Jason Meyers felt right at home Tuesday when the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series ran its inaugural event at Fox Ridge Speedway.
The Fresno native, who started driving Wisconsin-based Karavan Motorsports’ #7 VMAC Maxim a week after Craig Dollansky suffered a season-ended back injury in the Infiniti Pro Series’ Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 17th, led the final 11 2/3 laps to claim the $10,000 first prize.
"This is awesome," Meyers yelled to the largest crowd ever to watch a race at Fox Ridge Speedway. "It’s unfortunate that I’m driving this car under these circumstances, but this is a great opportunity for me. The first thing I’m going to do is call Craig and tell him about it.
"This team’s done a awesome job. D.J. (Lindsey), Bryan (Sundby) and Heath (Jacobson) gave me a great race car tonight. I wasn’t sure about our tire choice, but they did what they thought was right and it was perfect. I want to thank (co-car owner) Scott Boyd for this chance … and Madonna (Boyd) told me it was her birthday today, so happy birthday Madonna!
"We have a lot of great people associated with this team: VMAC, Karavan Trailers, Hoosier Tires and Maxim Chassis. This was a brand new Charlie Fisher motor tonight, and it ran great. Scott Boyd put this race on, and I’m just glad all these fans came out to support us. Thank you!"
Meyers exchanged the lead with pole-sitter and early leader Kraig Kinser twice during lap 18 before executing the winning pass in the low groove between the first and second corners one lap later. The victory was the second of Meyers’ O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series career. He is the 13th driver to win a main event in the first 27 events of the series’ 25th Anniversary Season.
Meyers, the sixth-fastest driver in the 32-car field, earned the right to start the 30-lap "A" Feature outside the second row by following Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year candidate Jason Sides across the finish line in the Second Dash Race.
Kinser, who won the First Dash Race and started on the pole, burst into the lead as the green flag fell in the main event. The 18-year-old son of "King of the Outlaws" Steve Kinser who had never led an O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series race before, was forced to restart after Brandon Wimmer hit the back-straightaway retaining wall late in the opening lap.
Kraig drove the #11K Delco-Remy International Maxim into the lead when the race resumed, only to have "B" Feature winner Mike Kertscher spin into the wall on the front stretch before the leaders completed the opening lap. Kinser raced into the lead again when the green flag replaced the yellow.
Meyers, who passed Donny Schatz during the first lap, took second place from Sides deep in turn four the next time around. Schatz drove his #15 Parker Stores J&J past Sides for third place two laps later.
Kinser was 15 car-lengths ahead of Meyers when he entered lapped traffic during the fifth lap. Travis Whitney opened the track ahead of the leaders two laps later when he spun in the fourth corner. Three-time O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series champion Sammy Swindell coasted into the pit area with a broken water line during the caution and never returned to the race.
Steve Kinser took the low line through turns three and four to pass Joey Saldana for sixth place within a lap after the race resumed. The 1996 Rookie of the Year took the high line around points leader Danny Lasoski and Kinser between turns three and four the next time around, however. "The King of the Outlaws" regained fifth place with an inside move in the same spot late in the 10th lap.
Tim Shaffer took the leaders out of lapped traffic when the #83 Beef Packers Eagle spun in the fourth corner late in lap 11. Kraig Kinser controlled the ensuing restart and opened a half-straightaway advantage within four laps.
Meyers cut young Kinser’s lead to four car-lengths in lapped traffic within two laps. Meyers passed Kraig deep in turn two early in the 18th lap, only to lose the position in the low groove between the third and fourth corners several seconds later.
Meyers took the low line into turn two to pass Kinser for the lead early in lap 19. Schatz used a similar move to pass Kraig for the runner-up spot four laps later, and was five car-lengths behind when Meyers took the checkered flag.
Kraig Kinser finished in third place, ahead of Sides, Steve Kinser, Lasoski, Brooke Tatnell, Saldana and Paul McMahan. Blake Feese, driving Guy Forbrook’s #5 MPD Hand Controls Maxim for the first time in an O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series event, finished 10th.
Shaffer, who swept the J.D. Byrider Outlaw Nationals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track early this season, raced into 12th place from inside the 11th row. Brian Brown passed eight cars to finish 16th.
Lasoski set Fox Ridge Speedway’s single-lap record with a 13.013-second, 103.742-M.P.H. lap around the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval. "The Dude" leads the series with 12 fast times. WoO
2003 O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series
Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, WI
Tuesday, June 10, Feature Program #27
Qualifying: 1. Danny Lasoski, Stewart 20, 13.013 (new single-lap record); 2. Brooke Tatnell, Grandstaff 66, 13.043; 3. Blake Feese, Forbrook 5, 13.0990; 4. Sammy Swindell, Roth 1, 13.137; 5. Donny Schatz, Schatz 15, 13.147; 6. Jason Meyers, Karavan Motorsports 7, 13.156; 7. Steve Kinser, Kinser 11, 13.157; 8. Paul McMahan, Helm 11H, 13.167; 9. Kraig Kinser, Kinser 11K, 13.213; 10. Jason Sides, Sides Motorsports 7S, 13.227; 11. Travis Whitney, Whitney 9T, 13.233; 12. Joey Saldana, Saldana 17, 13.259; 13. Mike Kertscher, Osborn 80K, 13.326; 14. Bob Bennett, Acme Trailers 3, 13.328; 15. Daryn Pittman, Sher-Don Motorsports 21, 13.332; 16. Brian Paulus, P and P Motorsports 28, 13.343; 17. Brandon Wimmer, Two Winners 7TW, 13.349; 18. Mark Kinser, Kinser 5M, 13.350; 19. Justin Henderson, Carnahan R19, 13.387; 20. Kim Mock, Osborn 1M, 13.388; 21. Ricky Logan, Gifford 17G, 13.400; 22. Kurt Davis, Fattfro 6K, 13.484; 23. Tim Shaffer, Roth 83, 13.501; 24. Brian Brown, Parsons 6, 13.511; 25. Mike Reinke, Cowman 02, 13.541; 26. Craig Keel, Pottorff 9 13.650; 27. Brian Kristan, Johnson 44K, 13.660; 28. Todd Hepfner, Hepfner 28H, 13.732; 29. Jerry Richart, Jr., Sibbs 45, 13.763; 30. Brian Carlson, Carlson 18, 13.919; 31. Jason Johnson, Johnson 44, 14.504; 32. Randy Sippel, Sauermilch 51J, 14.694.
First Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Brian Brown, 2. Danny Lasoski, 3. Brandon Wimmer, 4. Kraig Kinser, 5. Paul McMahan, 6. Mike Reinke, 7. Jerry Richart, Jr., 8. Brian Paulus. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
Second Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Tim Shaffer, 2. Steve Kinser, 3. Brooke Tatnell, 4. Jason Sides, 5. Daryn Pittman, 6. Craig Keel, 7. Brian Carlson, 8. Mark Kinser. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
Third Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Justin Henderson, 2. Blake Feese, 3. Travis Whitney, 4. Jason Meyers, 5. Bob Bennett, 6. Brian Kristan, 7. Jason Johnson, 8. Kurt Davis. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
Fourth Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Kim Mock, 2. Ricky Logan, 3. Donny Schatz, 4. Joey Saldana, 5. Sammy Swindell, 6. Mike Kertscher, 7. Todd Hepfner, 8. Randy Sippel. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
First Dash Race (five laps): 1. Kraig Kinser, 2. Donny Schatz, 3. Steve Kinser, 4. Danny Lasoski, 5. Travis Whitney, 6. Blake Feese, 7. Brandon Wimmer, 8. Bob Bennett. (finish determined the inside starting positions in the first eight rows in the "A" Feature lineup)
Second Dash Race (five laps): 1. Jason Sides, 2. Jason Meyers, 3. Joey Saldana, 4. Paul McMahan, 5. Brooke Tatnell, 6. Daryn Pittman, 7. Justin Henderson, 8. Sammy Swindell. (finish determined the outside starting positions in the first eight rows in the "A" Feature lineup)
B Feature (12 laps): 1. Mike Kertscher, 2. Brian Paulus, 3. Mark Kinser, 4. Kurt Davis, 5. Mike Reinke ($200); 6. Brian Kristan ($180); 7. Brian Carlson ($150); 8. Jason Johnson ($120); 9. Craig Keel ($100); 10. Todd Hepfner ($90). (first four qualified for the "A" Feature)
A Feature (30 laps): 1. Jason Meyers [4] ($10,000); 2. Donny Schatz [3] ($5,500); 3. Kraig Kinser [1] ($3,200); 4. Jason Sides [2] ($2,800); 5. Steve Kinser [5] ($2,500); 6. Danny Lasoski [7] ($2,300); 7. Brooke Tatnell [10] ($2,200); 8. Joey Saldana [6] ($2,100); 9. Paul McMahan [8] ($2,050); 10. Blake Feese [11] ($2,000); 11. Daryn Pittman [12] ($1,500); 12. Tim Shaffer [21] ($1,200); 13. Kim Mock [20] ($1,100); 14. Ricky Logan [19] ($1,050); 15. Justin Henderson [14] ($1,000); 16. Brian Brown [24] ($900); 17. Brandon Wimmer [13] ($800); 18. Mike Kertscher [17] ($820); 19. Brian Paulus [18] ($820); 20. Kurt Davis [22] ($820); 21. Bob Bennett [15] ($800); 22. Travis Whitney [9] ($800); 23. Sammy Swindell [16] ($800); 24. Mark Kinser [23] ($820).
Lap leaders: Kraig Kinser 1-18, Jason Meyers 19-30
ARCADIA, WI (June 10) – Californian Jason Meyers felt right at home Tuesday when the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series ran its inaugural event at Fox Ridge Speedway.
The Fresno native, who started driving Wisconsin-based Karavan Motorsports’ #7 VMAC Maxim a week after Craig Dollansky suffered a season-ended back injury in the Infiniti Pro Series’ Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 17th, led the final 11 2/3 laps to claim the $10,000 first prize.
"This is awesome," Meyers yelled to the largest crowd ever to watch a race at Fox Ridge Speedway. "It’s unfortunate that I’m driving this car under these circumstances, but this is a great opportunity for me. The first thing I’m going to do is call Craig and tell him about it.
"This team’s done a awesome job. D.J. (Lindsey), Bryan (Sundby) and Heath (Jacobson) gave me a great race car tonight. I wasn’t sure about our tire choice, but they did what they thought was right and it was perfect. I want to thank (co-car owner) Scott Boyd for this chance … and Madonna (Boyd) told me it was her birthday today, so happy birthday Madonna!
"We have a lot of great people associated with this team: VMAC, Karavan Trailers, Hoosier Tires and Maxim Chassis. This was a brand new Charlie Fisher motor tonight, and it ran great. Scott Boyd put this race on, and I’m just glad all these fans came out to support us. Thank you!"
Meyers exchanged the lead with pole-sitter and early leader Kraig Kinser twice during lap 18 before executing the winning pass in the low groove between the first and second corners one lap later. The victory was the second of Meyers’ O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series career. He is the 13th driver to win a main event in the first 27 events of the series’ 25th Anniversary Season.
Meyers, the sixth-fastest driver in the 32-car field, earned the right to start the 30-lap "A" Feature outside the second row by following Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year candidate Jason Sides across the finish line in the Second Dash Race.
Kinser, who won the First Dash Race and started on the pole, burst into the lead as the green flag fell in the main event. The 18-year-old son of "King of the Outlaws" Steve Kinser who had never led an O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series race before, was forced to restart after Brandon Wimmer hit the back-straightaway retaining wall late in the opening lap.
Kraig drove the #11K Delco-Remy International Maxim into the lead when the race resumed, only to have "B" Feature winner Mike Kertscher spin into the wall on the front stretch before the leaders completed the opening lap. Kinser raced into the lead again when the green flag replaced the yellow.
Meyers, who passed Donny Schatz during the first lap, took second place from Sides deep in turn four the next time around. Schatz drove his #15 Parker Stores J&J past Sides for third place two laps later.
Kinser was 15 car-lengths ahead of Meyers when he entered lapped traffic during the fifth lap. Travis Whitney opened the track ahead of the leaders two laps later when he spun in the fourth corner. Three-time O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series champion Sammy Swindell coasted into the pit area with a broken water line during the caution and never returned to the race.
Steve Kinser took the low line through turns three and four to pass Joey Saldana for sixth place within a lap after the race resumed. The 1996 Rookie of the Year took the high line around points leader Danny Lasoski and Kinser between turns three and four the next time around, however. "The King of the Outlaws" regained fifth place with an inside move in the same spot late in the 10th lap.
Tim Shaffer took the leaders out of lapped traffic when the #83 Beef Packers Eagle spun in the fourth corner late in lap 11. Kraig Kinser controlled the ensuing restart and opened a half-straightaway advantage within four laps.
Meyers cut young Kinser’s lead to four car-lengths in lapped traffic within two laps. Meyers passed Kraig deep in turn two early in the 18th lap, only to lose the position in the low groove between the third and fourth corners several seconds later.
Meyers took the low line into turn two to pass Kinser for the lead early in lap 19. Schatz used a similar move to pass Kraig for the runner-up spot four laps later, and was five car-lengths behind when Meyers took the checkered flag.
Kraig Kinser finished in third place, ahead of Sides, Steve Kinser, Lasoski, Brooke Tatnell, Saldana and Paul McMahan. Blake Feese, driving Guy Forbrook’s #5 MPD Hand Controls Maxim for the first time in an O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series event, finished 10th.
Shaffer, who swept the J.D. Byrider Outlaw Nationals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track early this season, raced into 12th place from inside the 11th row. Brian Brown passed eight cars to finish 16th.
Lasoski set Fox Ridge Speedway’s single-lap record with a 13.013-second, 103.742-M.P.H. lap around the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval. "The Dude" leads the series with 12 fast times. WoO
2003 O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series
Fox Ridge Speedway, Arcadia, WI
Tuesday, June 10, Feature Program #27
Qualifying: 1. Danny Lasoski, Stewart 20, 13.013 (new single-lap record); 2. Brooke Tatnell, Grandstaff 66, 13.043; 3. Blake Feese, Forbrook 5, 13.0990; 4. Sammy Swindell, Roth 1, 13.137; 5. Donny Schatz, Schatz 15, 13.147; 6. Jason Meyers, Karavan Motorsports 7, 13.156; 7. Steve Kinser, Kinser 11, 13.157; 8. Paul McMahan, Helm 11H, 13.167; 9. Kraig Kinser, Kinser 11K, 13.213; 10. Jason Sides, Sides Motorsports 7S, 13.227; 11. Travis Whitney, Whitney 9T, 13.233; 12. Joey Saldana, Saldana 17, 13.259; 13. Mike Kertscher, Osborn 80K, 13.326; 14. Bob Bennett, Acme Trailers 3, 13.328; 15. Daryn Pittman, Sher-Don Motorsports 21, 13.332; 16. Brian Paulus, P and P Motorsports 28, 13.343; 17. Brandon Wimmer, Two Winners 7TW, 13.349; 18. Mark Kinser, Kinser 5M, 13.350; 19. Justin Henderson, Carnahan R19, 13.387; 20. Kim Mock, Osborn 1M, 13.388; 21. Ricky Logan, Gifford 17G, 13.400; 22. Kurt Davis, Fattfro 6K, 13.484; 23. Tim Shaffer, Roth 83, 13.501; 24. Brian Brown, Parsons 6, 13.511; 25. Mike Reinke, Cowman 02, 13.541; 26. Craig Keel, Pottorff 9 13.650; 27. Brian Kristan, Johnson 44K, 13.660; 28. Todd Hepfner, Hepfner 28H, 13.732; 29. Jerry Richart, Jr., Sibbs 45, 13.763; 30. Brian Carlson, Carlson 18, 13.919; 31. Jason Johnson, Johnson 44, 14.504; 32. Randy Sippel, Sauermilch 51J, 14.694.
First Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Brian Brown, 2. Danny Lasoski, 3. Brandon Wimmer, 4. Kraig Kinser, 5. Paul McMahan, 6. Mike Reinke, 7. Jerry Richart, Jr., 8. Brian Paulus. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
Second Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Tim Shaffer, 2. Steve Kinser, 3. Brooke Tatnell, 4. Jason Sides, 5. Daryn Pittman, 6. Craig Keel, 7. Brian Carlson, 8. Mark Kinser. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
Third Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Justin Henderson, 2. Blake Feese, 3. Travis Whitney, 4. Jason Meyers, 5. Bob Bennett, 6. Brian Kristan, 7. Jason Johnson, 8. Kurt Davis. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
Fourth Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Kim Mock, 2. Ricky Logan, 3. Donny Schatz, 4. Joey Saldana, 5. Sammy Swindell, 6. Mike Kertscher, 7. Todd Hepfner, 8. Randy Sippel. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
First Dash Race (five laps): 1. Kraig Kinser, 2. Donny Schatz, 3. Steve Kinser, 4. Danny Lasoski, 5. Travis Whitney, 6. Blake Feese, 7. Brandon Wimmer, 8. Bob Bennett. (finish determined the inside starting positions in the first eight rows in the "A" Feature lineup)
Second Dash Race (five laps): 1. Jason Sides, 2. Jason Meyers, 3. Joey Saldana, 4. Paul McMahan, 5. Brooke Tatnell, 6. Daryn Pittman, 7. Justin Henderson, 8. Sammy Swindell. (finish determined the outside starting positions in the first eight rows in the "A" Feature lineup)
B Feature (12 laps): 1. Mike Kertscher, 2. Brian Paulus, 3. Mark Kinser, 4. Kurt Davis, 5. Mike Reinke ($200); 6. Brian Kristan ($180); 7. Brian Carlson ($150); 8. Jason Johnson ($120); 9. Craig Keel ($100); 10. Todd Hepfner ($90). (first four qualified for the "A" Feature)
A Feature (30 laps): 1. Jason Meyers [4] ($10,000); 2. Donny Schatz [3] ($5,500); 3. Kraig Kinser [1] ($3,200); 4. Jason Sides [2] ($2,800); 5. Steve Kinser [5] ($2,500); 6. Danny Lasoski [7] ($2,300); 7. Brooke Tatnell [10] ($2,200); 8. Joey Saldana [6] ($2,100); 9. Paul McMahan [8] ($2,050); 10. Blake Feese [11] ($2,000); 11. Daryn Pittman [12] ($1,500); 12. Tim Shaffer [21] ($1,200); 13. Kim Mock [20] ($1,100); 14. Ricky Logan [19] ($1,050); 15. Justin Henderson [14] ($1,000); 16. Brian Brown [24] ($900); 17. Brandon Wimmer [13] ($800); 18. Mike Kertscher [17] ($820); 19. Brian Paulus [18] ($820); 20. Kurt Davis [22] ($820); 21. Bob Bennett [15] ($800); 22. Travis Whitney [9] ($800); 23. Sammy Swindell [16] ($800); 24. Mark Kinser [23] ($820).
Lap leaders: Kraig Kinser 1-18, Jason Meyers 19-30
